Finland – Ruska – Hiking in Finnish Lapland in Comfort
Autumn hiking trip through Lapland's national parks during the glowing Ruska season – with hotel comfort
from 1.990 € p.p.
„Finland – Ruska – Hiking in Finnish Lapland in Comfort“ lasts 18 days (coach) / 13 days (flight Helsinki) / 12 days (flight Rovaniemi), costs from 1.990 € per person. Tour operator: RAWAKAS – Reisen mit Charakter. Advice and enquiries via Sport Meisel — we reply within one working day.
From the treeless fell heights we have an almost boundless view across the transforming tundra. During the Ruska season in September, Finnish Lapland glows in intense autumn colours – ideal daytime temperatures of around 5 to 20 °C, light night frosts that intensify the colouring, and hardly any insects make this the perfect hiking weather.
We explore Lemmenjoki National Park with its reindeer herds and gold prospectors, Urho Kekkonen National Park with its red-tinted fell birches, Pyhä-Luosto National Park with aapa mires and an amethyst mine, and Yllästunturi National Park. The hikes of 10 to 22 km are day tours with day packs from the hotel; two longer tours can be replaced by shorter alternatives.
Cultural highlights such as the Siida Sami Museum, Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle and a Lapp boat trip on the Lemmenjoki round off the trip. In clear weather there is a chance of seeing the northern lights. Nights are mostly spent in good to very good hotels.
Trip highlights
- Glowing autumn colours of the tundra during the Ruska season
- Six national parks: Lemmenjoki, Urho Kekkonen, Pyhä-Luosto, Yllästunturi, Pyhä-Häkki and more
- Lapp boat trip on the Lemmenjoki to the Ravadasköngäs waterfall
- Siida Sami Museum and living Sami culture
- Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi
- Europe's northernmost amethyst mine and the gold village of Tankavara
- Wildlife: reindeer, elk, golden eagles, ptarmigan
- Possible northern lights in clear weather
Itinerary — day by day
1 Day 1 · Coach journey to Travemünde
Start in Dresden (2 pm) and Berlin Südkreuz (4:30 pm), drive to Travemünde with dinner in Lübeck. Check-in on the Finnlines ferry at midnight.
2 Day 2 · Ferry crossing Travemünde – Helsinki
Around 30 hours at sea across the Baltic on a Star-class ship.
3 Day 3 · Arrival Helsinki & Pyhä-Häkki NP
Arrival at Vuosaari harbour, drive north and a first short hike in Pyhä-Häkki National Park.
4 Day 4 · Ranua – Rovaniemi & Pyhätunturi NP
Ranua Wildlife Park in the morning, Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle in the afternoon; picking up the air passengers in Rovaniemi and continuing to Pyhätunturi National Park.
5 Day 5 · Pyhätunturi National Park
Hike across the Pyhätunturi (sacred fell of the Sami) and through the Iso-Kuru gorge.
6 Day 6 · Luosto fell & amethyst mine
Easy hike on the Luosto fell, optional visit to Europe's northernmost amethyst mine.
7 Day 7 · Gold village Tankavara & Kiilopää
Drive via Sodankylä, short hike in the aapa mire area, visit to the gold village of Tankavara and the UKK information centre.
8 Day 8 · Urho Kekkonen National Park
Longer hike around the Kiilopää fell centre through tundra and autumnal birch forests with views towards Russia.
9 Day 9 · Kiilopää fell
Hike on a nature trail and up the Kiilopää fell with panoramic views across the UKK National Park.
10 Day 10 · Siida Sami Museum – Lemmenjoki NP
Drive via Ivalo to Inari, visit to the Siida Sami Museum, optional short hike at Lake Inari, then on to Njurkulahti.
11 Day 11 · Lemmenjoki National Park
By Lapp boat to the Ravadasköngäs waterfall, circular hike, return in the evening from the gold harbour Kultahamina.
12 Day 12 · Joenkielinen fell hike
Hike to the Joenkielinen fell with views over the Lemmenjoki river valley, drive to Yllästunturi in the afternoon.
13 Day 13 · Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Visit to the Kellokas information centre and hike on the “ptarmigan trail”.
14 Day 14 · Aakenustunturi fell
Easy hike in the eastern Ylläs-Pallas National Park through mire and fell nature.
15 Day 15 · Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle & return journey
Drive to Rovaniemi with a visit to Santa Claus, air passengers to the airport; coach journey south.
16 Day 16 · Leivonmäki NP & ferry crossing
Continue to Helsinki, optional hike in Leivonmäki National Park, ferry departure at 3 pm.
17 Day 17 · Ferry arrival Travemünde
Arrival in Travemünde around 9 pm and start of the return journey to Dresden.
18 Day 18 · Return to Dresden
Drive via Berlin Südkreuz to Dresden, arriving early in the morning.
Services
Included
- Coach travel from/to Dresden via Berlin and Travemünde
- Ferry crossing Travemünde – Helsinki/Vuosaari and back with Finnlines
- 3 nights in four-berth cabins on the ferry
- All transfers in Finland in an air-conditioned/heated minibus
- Boat trip on the Lemmenjoki (Lapp boat)
- 13 nights in twin rooms in good/simple hotels, apartments and wilderness cabins
- 13 x breakfast buffet
- Guided hiking programme
- German tour guide
Not included
- Lunch and dinner (approx. €20-40/day)
- Drinks
- Entrance fees (Sami museum, amethyst mine, wildlife park, Santa Claus and others)
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Optional extras
- Flights to/from Helsinki or Rovaniemiapprox. €580.00
- Twin cabin on the ferry per person and leg€100.00
- Catering package ferry outward€89.00
- Catering package ferry return€107.00
- Single room supplement (coach / flight Helsinki)€630.00
- Single room supplement (flight Rovaniemi)€570.00
Accommodation & meals
Accommodation
Mostly good to very good hotels in twin rooms with shower/WC; simpler rooms in Kiilopää, a wilderness hotel or 4-bed wilderness cabins in Lemmenjoki, modern apartments at Ylläs; 4-berth cabins on the ferry when travelling by coach
Meals
13 (or 11) x breakfast buffet included; lunch and dinner as well as drinks not included (approx. €20-40 per person/day), partly self-catering via a group kitty
Difficulty & requirements
Sure-footedness and a head for heights for day tours of 4 to 7 hours with elevation differences of up to 500 m on natural, unpaved paths and wilderness trails. Two longer hikes can be replaced by shorter alternatives. Not suitable for people with limited mobility.
Getting there & back
Coach travel from Dresden/Berlin with the Finnlines ferry Travemünde–Helsinki (approx. 30 h), alternatively a flight to Helsinki or Rovaniemi (flight approx. €580)
Frequently asked questions
What does “Ruska season” mean?
Ruska is the short phase in September when the tundra and the fell birches of Lapland turn intense shades of red and yellow. Light night frosts intensify the colouring and there are hardly any insects left – ideal conditions for hiking.
How demanding are the hikes?
The day tours take 4 to 7 hours with elevation differences of up to 500 m on natural, unpaved paths. Sure-footedness and a head for heights are needed; the two longer hikes can be replaced by shorter alternatives.
Can I see the northern lights?
In clear weather there is a chance of observing the northern lights – naturally this cannot be guaranteed.
How warm is it in Lapland in September?
Daytime temperatures are mostly between about 5 and 20 °C, and there can be frost at night. Warm, weatherproof clothing is recommended, as it can get considerably colder than the average suggests.
Operator & travel security
This trip is operated by RAWAKAS – Reisen mit Charakter. Sport Meisel arranges this trip. The travel terms of the operator apply.
- Package travel insolvency insurance certificate of the tour operator
- Emergency number: +49 351 4245 0892
- Processed under German travel law (§ 651a ff. BGB, EU Package Travel Directive).
What our travellers say
Feedback on the Ruska Finland tour of September 2018: Mirko Prasse was a good tour leader – expert knowledge, information about the country and its people, group motivation, patience, friendliness and a relaxed driving style. The mökki in Lemmenjoki was especially cosy, personally furnished and run by a Sami family. It was a very lovely holiday: great hikes, and the nature, the vastness and the silence are unique!
Sport Meisel in pictures
Enquire about this trip
Personal advice instead of anonymous booking: send us your enquiry and we will get back to you with details, availability and prices.